Single unit full-fashioned stocking



4 shets-sheet 1 -W w/ v ATTORNEY May 18,l 1943.

` J. L BEERs SINGLE UNIT FULL-FASHION@ sTocKING A,Filed April 21, 1958 May 18, 1943. 1 J. n.. BEERs 2,319,771 SINGLE UNIT FULL-FASHION@ s'rocxme i Filed April 21, 1938- sheetssheet 2 y Jog/ L R y 'WMWM" ATTORNEY May 18, 1943- J. L. BEERs 2,319,771

SINGLE UNIT FULL-FASHIONED sTocxING f Filed April 21, 1938 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. n L/bSf/I L. eelzs.

BYW

ATTORNEY.

-known as footer. n

Patented May 18, .1943

UNITED AN STATES APATENT oEElcEi Joseph L. Beers, Julius Kayser &

The present invention relates to hosiery, more particularly to full-fashioned stockingsvof the single unit type, the present application being a continuation in part of my co-pending applica tion, Serial Number As known in the art', the manufactureof the ordinary type of full-fashioned stocking'blanks requires the use of machinesone called the legger and the other the footer'J The legger is adapted to knit the leg portion of the stocking blank, including the heel tabs, while the footer is devised to knit the foot (conslstingof the instep, sole, and toe) of the blank as a continuation of'the leg and heel tabs afterV said 'legand heel tabs have been transferred onto the needles of the The manufacture of full-'fashioned stockings of the single unittype differs from the manufacture of the kordinary ytype in that the leg and foot of the blank of asingle unit tylpe of stocking are knitted continuously on one and the same machine.

Full-fashioned stockings of the single unit type are preferable to the' ordinary type because, due to the fact that the leg and foot portions are knitted contiguously, there are produced a proper matching between the uniform texture throughout 'the blank. However, the manufacture of single unit type of stockings has heretofore been limited and practically prohibited because the various' methods devised 106,828,1filed October 21,

leg and`foot fabric, and

Bloomfield, N. J., assigner to Co., Brooklyn, N. Y. v Application April 21,1938, serial No. 203,252 I 34 claims. (c1. s6-18u two distinct-and separateskilled in them, `drawings and in for their manufacture are quite involved and ne- `cessitate the utilization of complicated'machines which, obviously, places the cost of production on an exceedingly high scale.

The present invention particularly aims to lprovide a single unit full-fashioned stocking wherein the leg and foot fabric portions are integrally knitted from continuous lengths of yarn, thereby producing perfection and uniformity of matching and texture throughout the entire sheer portion of the stocking, and wherein the heel fabric portion is knitted from yarns separate of the body yarn as a continuation of the leg fabric portion, and interknitted with the foot fabric portion, whereby the leg, heel, and foot are continuously and integrally combined to present a unitary knit structure.

z It is an important feature of the invention to provide a single unit full-fashioned stocking of the character mentioned, wherein the combination leg and foot blank and the heel tabs are interconnected directly on a knitting machine by knitting the heel tabs as continuations of the leg portion of the blank, and during the knitting of said heel tabs, interknitting in overlapping relation therewith the sole portions of the blank, thus eliminating the usual looping or sewing operation and producing a flat and firm connecting seam between the various adjacent vassociated fabrics.

Other important objects and advantages ofthe invention will bein part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.;

In order Ithat the invention and its mode of operation may be lreadily understood by those I have,- in the accompanying the detailed description based thereupon, .set out possible embodiments of the same. In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a face elevationof a single unit full-fashioned stocking blank constructed in accordance with the invention and having heel tabs incorporated therein.

Figure 1A is a side elevation of a finished stocking made from a vblank such as that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2 illustrates thestocking blank including the leg and foot. portions continuously knitted to form the single unit blank. y Y

Figure 3 diagrammatically shows a portion of the blank severed and folded for topping onto the needles of. a knitting machine for knitting heel tabs onto the blank.

Figure 4 diagrammatically illustrates the portion of the blankr shown in Figure 3 at the completion of the heel tabs.

Figure 5 is anenlarged detail of the blank diaf grammatically illustrating the formation of the severing courses.

Figure 6 shows the portion of the blank illustrated in Figure 5-with a part of a heeltab interknitted therewith.. K

Figure 7 diagrammatically shows the engagement of the loops with sets of knitting and nonknitting needles.

Figures 8, 9, and l0 diagrammatically illustrate in the transfer of the loops in the foot portion for interlooping engagement with the heel tabs as thev knitting thereof progresses.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference will designate corresponding parts throughout, I have shown in Figure l the complete stocking blank I -including the welt 2, the leg 3, the high splice heel sections 4, the heel tabs 5, the instep 6, the sole sections 1, and the toe 8. In accordance with the invention, the leg 3, the high splice heel sections 4, sole sections 7, and toe 8 are knitted integrally from continuous lengths of yarn A on one machine. The high splice heel sections 4, together with the sole sections 'I' and toe 8 may be reinforced by introducing additional yarns B in the usual manner. There is thus produced a single unit full-fashioned leg and foot blank of the type more clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

extend from the selvedge edges for a predeter.-

mined distance into the body of the blank, the length of the partial courses depending upon the desired width of the heeltabs to be inserted in the fabric.

Ihe provision of the partial loose courses III, it will be understood, affords a convenient guiding line for the severing of the fabric and, for that purpose, the feed of the additional reinn forced yarns B is preferably stopped during the formation of said partial loose courses as is more clearly shown in Figure 5.

Subsequent to the separation of the fabric, as stated, the foot portion is folded over the leg portion, andthe sole sections 7 are folded upon the instep section 6 in the manner more clearly represented in Figure 3 of the drawings. By folding the stocking blank in the manner specified, it will be appreciated that the marginal rows of loops I2 of the high splice heel sections 4, and the marginal rows of loops I3 of the sole sections 'I lay substantially on a straight line, a's indicated at I4, so that said rows of loops I2 and I3 may be topped on the bank of needles of a footer converted to knit the heel tabs.

It is to be noted that because of the `folding of the blank, as above set forth, the loops of the foot and sole sections are reversed so that, in the topping operation, the sinker portion of the marginal row ofloops I3 of each sole section 1 will engage the corresponding needles of the converted footer, whereas the needle portion of the marginal row of loops I2 of each high splice heel section 4 will engage the associated needles of said footer in the manner more clearly represented in Figure 7 of the drawings.

The converted footer is provided with two sets l of needles, diagrammatically shown in Figures 7, 8, 9, and l0, one set of needles I5 being nonknitting needles, the other set of needles I6 being adapted to knit in the usual ways'o that the heel tabs 5 may be knitted as continuations of the high heel sections 4.

As shown, the non-knitting needles I5 preferably consist of needles having shortened beards, which prevent the loops I3 on said needles from being pressed off during the knitting of the heel tabs 5. It is also possible to use ordinary knitlengths of body yarn A and from the high heel and sole reinforced yarns 2B.

Associated with the non-knitting needles I5 are transfer points II devised to pick the loops I3 off said non-knitting needles I5 and transfer them for interlooping engagement with the adjacent wale loops of the heel tabs 5 as the same are being knitted.

The loops I3 on the non-knitting needles I5 are transferred the distance of one or more wales, as necessity or preference may dictate. In Figure 8, I have illustrated the single wale transfer. According to this mode of operation of knitting the heel tabs 5 and simultaneously joining the sole portions 'I thereto, thetransfer points II descend and pick all the loops I3 off the non-knitting needles I5 and transfer said loops one needle distance, whichplaces each end loop successively in engagement with the adjacent end knitting needle of the row of needles I5. One or more intermediate courses may be knitted on needles I5 between each transfer operation to provide the necessary fabric for the formation of the heel and to insure suilicient elasticity in the foot. This operation is repeated until all the loops I3 on the non-knitting needles I5 have been transferred the distance of one needle at a time. and interknitted to form a seam 2| uniting the sole portions 1 to the heel tabs 5.

In Figure 9, I have illustrated the two wale distance transfer. As shown, the transfer points Il move thedistance of two needles after having picked the loops I3 olf the needles I5. It will be appreciated that sincel the two needle transfer, as compared with the single needle transfer, cuts in half the number of dips required to transfer the number of loops topped on the non-knitting needles I5, the two needle transfer operation will speed production in interknitting the loops in the manner heretofore described. .Howeven atleast three extra courses are found necessary after each interknitting course, to give the proper length to the heel, resulting in producing small openings at the line of juncture between the sole and the heel.

The defect -above mentioned can be overcome by following the method of operation shown in Figure 10. In practicing this latter mode of operation, two sets of transfer points 22 and 23 are provided on the` knitting machine. The transfer points 22 and 23 are adapted to simultaneously pick ofi the loops I3 and while points 23 are moved the distance of two needles, the points 22 (preferably two in number) are moved the distance' of three needles. It will be understood that by proceeding in this manner, the first Wale of the heel tabs 5 is left without transfer loops. While three extra courses are also required to be knitted between each transfer course, the holes ting needles, instead of the shortened beard third wales ofthe tabs which are usually tighter and the first Wale of the heel covers whatever small holes may result. l

The transfer operation causes the marginal loops of the foot fabric to .become interlooped with the adjacent marginal loops of the heel tab fabric and, accordinglmno seeming operation is necessary to unite the same. Furthermore, due to the transfer of the loops in the manner specified, the foot fabric is turned automatically at substantiallyright angles so that the finished blank assumes the proper shape to t the foot of the wearer. After finishing the blank according to the method above described, the same may `the foot fabric 4. A full-fashioned stocking comprising a legbe looped, seamed, dyed, and nished as is customary in the art to complete the stocking as shown in Figure 1A. Y

Referring particularly on the knitting machine to unite the sole sections 1 to the heel tabs 5, it will be noted that the interknitted overlapping kconnection 'therebetween constitutes a flat and firm seam lacking the. bulky and uneven appearance of a looped or s'ewed seam.

the'sole loop overlaps and lies upon the bight of a heel tab loop, and this can only be accomplished when the entire bightof the sole portion loop is liftedfrom the needle and transferred to another needle so that the entire bight of the sole portion loop and the entire bight of the heel tab loop both hang upon the one needle.v After this has been accomplished, a

bightsof aisole sinker loop anda heel needle loop of the preceding course. Thus there is provided an overlapping interknit connection between the sole portion and the heel tab. The word overlapping as herein used denes the paralleling relationship between the bights of the sole and the heel fabric loops, and interknit as herein used defines the complete drawing of a loop through theoverlapping ybights to provide an interknit connection therebetween as shown in the drawings.

I wish it to be understood that the stocking construction and the method of forming the y blank therefor may slightly vary lwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingn ly,v those modifications which come within the -scope of the following claims areto be considered within the spirit of the invention.

.What I claim is: 1. A stocking consisting ofv-a combination leg fabric and foot fabric blank, and heel tabs knitted into said blank as a continuation of the leg to the seam 2l formed y needle loop of the heel ltab is completely drawn through the overlapping ki in'overlapping relationship with rows of sinker` loops, with one of said rows of loops drawn com-r.

fabric, asole fabric, and an instep fabric, and heel tabs each knitted as a continuation of one of said fabrics, each of the heel tabs and one of said fabrics having rows of needle loops arranged pletely through thegother row of loops to interknit all the rows of loops irl-overlapping relationship.-

5. A stocking blank comprising combined leg and footl fabrics knitted from continuous lengths of yarn, and heel tabs knitted from yarns separate from said lengthsof yarn and each having a course of loops drawn through loops of a course in the leg fabric andY a Wale of loops drawn through loops of `a course in the foot fabric.

6. A stockingcomprising combined leg and foot fabricsknitted* from continuous lengths of yarn, and heel tabs knittedk from yarns separate from said lengthsof yarn and each having a course'ofl loops drawn through loops of a course in the leg fabric and a wale of loops drawn through loops of a course in the foot fabric.

7. A full-fashioned stocking comprising combined'leg and foot fabrics' knitted from continuous lengths of yarn, and heel tabs knitted-from yarns separate from said lengths of yarn and each having acourse of `loops drawn through loops of av course in the leg fabric and awale of loops drawn through loops of a course in the foot fabric.

8. Afull-fashioned stocking blank comprising: 1

' combinedfleg and foot fabrics knitted from continuous lengths of yarn, and 'heel tabs knitted from'yarns separate from said lengths of yarn as continuationsof the leg fabric and having needle loops of their inner selvedges drawn through sinker loops of the foot fabric providing an integral' overlapping interknit connection therebetween. I

fabric having selvedge needle loops drawn through and interknit with a. row of sinker loops of the foot fabricY to provide a knitted seam between the sole fabric and the heel fabric.

2. A full-fashioned stocking comprisingV acombination knitted leg fabric and knitted foot fabric blank including sole portions and heel tabs-knitted into said blank as continuations of the leg fabric, rows of `sinker loops of theA sole portio-n of having an overlapping relationship with selvedge needle loops of the inner edges of the heel tabs, said selvedge needle loops drawn through said rows of sinker loops. i

3. A knitted stocking comprising a leg portion, a sole portion,'and a heel tab knitted yto one of said portions, said sole portion having a course l of sinker loops arranged in'overlapping relationship with needle loops of the selvedge edge of the heel tab with certain needle loops of the heel tab drawn completely through said sinked loops for interknitting said loops in overlapping relationship. l Y

9. A full-fashioned stocking blank comprising: combined leg andfoot fabrics knitted from continuous lengths of yarn, and heel tabs knitted from yarns separate from said lengths of yarn and having a plain interknit connection with the leg fabric and needle loops' of their inner seivedges drawn through sinker loops of the foot fabric providing an integral overlapping interknit connection therebetween. l

10. A full-fashioned stocking blank comprising: combined-leg and root fabrics knitted from continuous lengths of yarn andprovided with reinforced high heel and sole sections, and heel tabs knitted from yarns separate from said lengths of yarn as continuations of the reinforced 4high heel sections and, having needle loops of their inner selvedges drawnlthrough sinker loops of the reinforced sole sections providing an integral interknit connection therebetween. p'

1l. A Vfull-fashionedl stocking 'blank comprisv ing: combined leg and foot fabrics knitted from continuous lengths'of yarn and provided with reinforced h-igh heel and sole sections, and-heel tabs having a plain interknit connection with said reinforced high heel sections and needle loops of their inner selvedges drawn through sinker loops of said sole sections providing an integral overlapping interknit connection therebetween;

from yarns separate from heel fabric portion having the needle loops of its first course drawn through the needle loops of the last course of the leg fabric portion, and having the needle loops of its inner selvedge portion drawn through the sinker loops of the flrst course of the foot fabric portion.

13. As an article of manufacture, a full-fashioned stocking comprising a combination leg and foot blank knitted from continuous lengths of body yarn said leg and foot blank having high heel and sole sections, and heel tabs each having the loops of its first course interknit with the loops of the last course of the corresponding high heel section, land the needle loops of its inner selvedge portion drawn through the sinkerk loops of the first course of the adjacent sole section of the blank. c

14. As an article of manufacture, a fullfash-l ioned stockingv comprising combined leg and foot fabric portions integrally knitted from continuous lengths of body yarn, and a heel fabric portion knitted from yarns separate from the body yarn as a continuation of the leg fabric por-tion, said heel fabric portion having loops disposed in overlapping rela-tion with loops of the foot fabric portion, and further having loops drawn through said overlapping loops to interknit the same.

l5. As an article of manufactu-re, a full-fashioned stocking comprising a combination leg and foot blank `knitted from continuous lengths of body yarn, said leg and foot blank having high heel and sole sections, and heel tabs knitted from yarns separate from the body yarn as continuations of the high heel sections of the blank, said heel tabs having loops disposed in overlapping relation with loops of the lsole sections of said blank, and further having loops drawn through said overlapping loops to interkn-it the same.

16. A full-fashioned stockingblank comprising: combined leg and foot fabrics and heel tabs knitted as continuations of the leg fabric and having needle loops of their inner selvedges drawn through sinker loops of the foot fabric providing an integral overlapping interknit connection therebetween.

17. A full-fashioned stocking blank comprising: combined leg and foot fabrics provided with reinforced high heel and sole sections; and heel tabs knitted-as continuationsof the reinforced high heel sections and having needle loops of their inner -selvedges drawn through sinker loops of the reinforced sole sections providing an integral interknit connection therebetween.

18. A stocking comprising a knitted foot fabric and a knitted heel fabric, one of said fabrics having certain loops disposed in overlapping rela-` tionship with certain loops of the otherof said fabric having certain loops drawn through said overlapping loops of the foot and heel fabrics to form an interknit connection therebetween.

21. In a stocking of the character described, a sole fabric and a heel fabric, one of said fabrics having a coursewise row of loops overlapping a walewise row of loops of the other of said fabrics, with predetermined loops of the walewise row of loops completely-passing through and interlooping with said overlapping loops.

22. In a stocking of the character described, a sole fabric and a heel fabric, said sole fabric having a coursewise row of loops overlapping a walewise row of loops of the heel fabric, with predetermined loops of said walewise row of loops of the heel fabric completely passing through and interlooping with said overlapping loops.

23. A knitted fabrik*l structure comprising a pair of adjoining kn-itted portions, one of said portions having a coursewise 'row of loops overlapping a walewise row of loops of the other of said portions with predetermined loops of the Walewise row of loops completely passing through and interlooping with the overlapping loops.

24.' A knitted fabric structure comprising a pair of adjoining knitted portions, one of said portions having certain loops disposed in overlapping relationship with certain loops of th-e other of said portions, and one of said portions having certain loops drawn through Athe overlapping loops of both portions to form an interknit connection therebetween.

25. A knitted fabric structure comprising a pair of adjoining knitted portions, one of said portions having loops disposed in overlapping relation with loops of the other of said portions and further having loops .drawn through said overlapping loops.

26. A knitted fabric structure comprising a pair of adjoining knitted portions, -one of said portions having needle loops drawn through and interlmit with a row of sinker loops of the other of said portions to provide aknitted connection between the mentioned portions.

27. lA knitted fabric structure' comprising a pair of adjoining knitted portions, one of said portions having a row of selvedge loops, the other of said portions having loops overlapping certain selvedge loops of the first mentioned portion and said ilrst mentioned portion having certain other 'selvedge loops drawn through the overlapping fabrics, and one ofsaid fabrics having certain loops drawn through said overlapping loops of both fabrics to form an interknit connection therebetween. Y

19. A stocking comprising a knitted foot fabric and a knitted heel fabric, said foot fabric having certain loops disposed in overlapping relationship vwith certain loops in the heel fabric, and said heel fabric having certain loops drawn through said overlapping loops of the foot and heel fabrics to form an interknit connection therebetween.

20. A stocking comprising a knitted leg fabric, a knitted foot fabric, and akknitted heel fabric, said heel fabric having loops interknitted with loops of the leg fabric, said Ifoot fabric having certain loops disposed in overlapping relationship with certain loops in the heel fabric, and said heel loops.

28. A knitted fabric-structure comprising a pair of adjoining knitted portions, one of said portions having a. row of selvedge loops, the other of said portions having a row of sinker loops overlapping certain selvedge loops of the rst mentioned portion and said first mentioned portion having certain other selvedge loops drawn through the overlapping loops.

29. A knitted fabric structure comprising a pair of adjoining knitted portions and a knitted insert between said portions, said knitted insert having loops drawn through loops in one of said portions, loops disposed in overlapping relation with loops in the other of said portions, and loops drawn through and interlooped with the loops disposed in overlapping relation.

30. A knitted fabric'structure comprising a pair of adjoining knitted portions and a. knitted insert between said portions, said knitted insert having needle loops drawn through needle loops in one of said portions, needle loops disposed in overlapping relation With sinker loops in the other of said portions, and needle loops drawn through and interlooped with the needle and sinker loops disposed in overlapping relation.

31. A knitted fabric structure comprising a pair of adjoining knitted portions and a knitted insert between said portions, said knitted insert having a coursewise row of loops drawn through a coursewise row of loops in one of said portions, a walewise row of loops disposed in overlapping relation with a coursewise row of loops in the otherof said portions and certain loops of said walewise row of loops drawn through and interlooped with the loops disposed in overlapping relation.

32. Aknitted fabric structure comprising a pair of adjoining knitted .portions and a knitted insert between said portions, said knitted insert having a coursewise row ofl needle loopsv drawn through a coursewise row of needle loops in one of said portions, a walewise row of needle loops disposed in overlapping relation with a course- Wise row of sinker loops in the other of said por'- tions, and certain needle loops of said walewise row of needle loops drawn through and interlooped with the needle and sinker loops disposed in overlapping relation.

33. A knitted fabric structure comprising a pair of adjoining portions and a knitted insert between said portions, said knitted insert having a courseof loops drawn through a course of loops in one of said portions and a Wale of selvedge loops disposed in overlapping relation with a course of loops in the other of said portions, and certain loops of said wale of selvedge loops drawn through and interlooped with the loops disposed in overlapping relation.

34. A knitted fabric structure comprising a pair of adjoining portionsvand a knitted insert between said portions', said knitted insert having a course of needle loops drawn through a course of needle loops in one of said portions and a Wale of selvedge needle loops disposed in overlapping relation with a 'course of sinker loops in the other of said portions, and certain needle loops of said Wale of selvedge loops drawn through and interlooped with the needle and sinker loops disposed in overlapping -1 relation.

JOBIPH L. BEERS. 

